WDC Equality Assessment form
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Stage 1: Scope of the Equality Assessment
** NB. It is important that your Equality Champion (See Corporate, Equality and Safeguarding
on WySpace for a current list) is aware that the EA is being undertaken, and is kept updated
throughout the entire process **
EAs are designed to be proportionate and relevant and thus the time spent completing the EA
and the depth to which the questions are answered need to reflect the size and importance of
what is being assessed
Your Equality Champion can help with completing the EA if necessary, or guidance
can be found in the Documents section of the Equality and Safeguarding page on WySpace (via
the Corporate tab)
1.
What is being assessed? (Title or description of the policy, strategy, service, function
(this includes reports to Cabinet as appropriate)).
And who implements this policy, strategy, service or function?
The service to empty and maintain the dog waste bins provided in the district.
Contract management is carried out by the client officer in the Environmental Health team
2.
What is the purpose? (A short statement about its aim or objectives)
To empty and maintain the dog waste bins provided which are in place to assist in keeping
the district free from dog faeces.
3.
Who is affected? (The people it covers)
Any dog owner, although no direct customer contact. Indirectly all users of open space who
benefit from a cleaner environment.
4.
Are there any other organisations involved in delivery? (Other agencies, Voluntary
sector) If so, please list them.
Dog waste bin provision is coordinated with Parish and Town Councils. Dog waste bins also
provided by some Housing Associations, although no direct relationship.
5.
What are the external drivers for change? (i.e. Legal, National Policy, Partnership, etc)
The Council has a legal duty to keep the land it owns free from waste.
WDC Equality Assessment form
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Does / could the service, the way you implement it, or the potential change directly
affect any of the protected characteristic groups (public, Members or staff)? See
Appendix 2 of the Equality Framework.
No.
7.
Does / will it affect how other services are provided?
No.
8.
Is there information e.g. survey data or complaints that suggest that it will / is affecting
particular groups of people who share a protected characteristic? If so, how?
No.
9.
Does it have employment implications? (e.g. Recruitment policy)
Contractors staff and this will be coverred in standard tender questions
If you have answered ‘yes’ to one or more of questions 6,7,8 or 9 you will probably need to
carry out a full Equality Assessment immediately.
10. Using the assessment in Questions 6-9 above, should a full assessment be carried out
at this time?
NO
11. If you have said NO what is the justification for your decision? (Please provide details.
e.g. a top level assessment may need to be carried out now to meet Cabinet
requirements but enough information for a full assessment isn’t available at this time).
If so a due date for the completion of the full EA MUST be provided
This is a service provided to all users of dog waste bins and indirectly all users of open
spaces to keep those spaces clean. There is no direct customer contact.
If the answer to Q10 is ‘yes’ continue with stages 2-4. Head of Service sign off will be required
after Stage 4 only and a Word electronic copy should be returned to the Equality Officer for
publication.
WDC Equality Assessment form
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If the answer to Q10 is ‘no’ the EIA will need to go through the challenge process to ensure
that no further stages are required either at this time or ever, and needs to be sent to Claire
Hook, Equality Officer for discussion and possible further explanation at
[email protected]. Then, if following the challenge process
a) it is agreed with the Equality Officer that no further Stages need to be completed the Head
of Service needs to sign off the assessment (below) and return a Word electronic copy it to
the Equality Officer for publication.
OR
b) it is agreed with the Equality Officer that Stages 2-4 need to be completed there is no need
for Head of Service sign off until Stages 2-4 have been completed at which point a Word
electronic copy should be returned to the Equality Officer for publication.
12. Who undertook this assessment?
Name: Julian Smith
Job Title: Divisional Environmental Health Officer
Phone: 01494 421702
Email: [email protected]
This impact assessment was approved by the following Head of Service:
Name:
Service:
Date:
NB
Heads of Service are responsible for ensuring that the EIA accurately reflects the service
area and has been completed in line with the current programme.
Stage 2: Information Gathering
1. Under the Equality Act we need to comply with certain General duties, These ask;
What will the review or change to the Service / policy etc. currently being assessed
do to:
eliminate unlawful
discrimination, harassment
and victimisation for any /
all of the protected
characteristics. (See
Appendix 2 of the Equality
Framework) Also bear in
mind the impact on the
needs of refugees and
WDC Equality Assessment form
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migrants where relevant.
advance equality of
opportunity for any / all of
the protected
characteristics
foster good relations for
any / all of the protected
characteristics
2.
Have you carried out work to identify the profile of your users or do you have information
that describes the profile? (Please state the main sources of information you have used to
map and understand the individuals and their needs, and what this has told you about
them).
3.
Please describe the groups and / or mechanisms you use to engage with service users,
as well as a summary of the consultation findings if applicable. (Also include any relevant
consultations undertaken by other organisations involved in delivery (Stage 1 Q4)).
3a. Is this on-going? (if not please give reasons why)
4.
Have you done any work to understand the impacts of your service / policy / review on
these user groups? This may include any consultation / research / studies you have
used.
(If ‘yes’ what has this told you)?
5.
Is there any further consultation or research planned?
Yes
No
If ‘yes’, remember to include this as an action in Stage 4
6.
If there are gaps in your knowledge are there any experts / relevant groups that can be
contacted to get further views or evidence on these issues?
Yes
No
6a. If Yes, please list them and explain how you will obtain their views:
Remember to include contacting them, and (if relevant), the use of their views to
determine actions in Stage 4
7.
Do you need to carry out further research?
Yes
No
7a. If yes give details (remembering to include this as an action in Stage 4)
WDC Equality Assessment form
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Stage 3: Making a Judgement (Analysis)
1. Please state what you have done to date to take into account the needs / promote service
for each of the relevant protected characteristics with respect to this policy / procedure /
function / review. (Include here past actions that have benefitted specific groups. E.g. in
the past you may have undertaken work to benefit a particular group who may, therefore,
be excluded from this new piece of work, and this needs explaining. This section is
therefore not always applicable).
Age, Disability, Gender,
Gender reassignment,
Religion / Belief,Sexual
orientation, marriage / civil
partnership, Pregnancy /
maternity (See Appendix 2 of
the Equality Framework)
2. From the information above and the description of your service state the likely positive and
negative impacts for each protected characteristic. (This relates to the proposal currently
being assessed)
Also consider the wider impact - whilst low income isn’t a protected characteristic in itself it
might be highly relevant to the area being assessed. For example: older or younger people
may well have a lower income than the middle aged population, and people with
disabilities are more likely to be out of work or paid less than the general population, as are
those from an ethnic minority background. And, currently, there are more single mothers
than single fathers and this may mean a lower income.
Age, Disability, Gender,
Gender reassignment,
Religion / Belief, Sexual
orientation, marriage / civil
partnership, Pregnancy /
maternity (see Appendix 2 of
the Equality Framework)
Again remember to include any actions in Stage 4 as necessary.
3. Which negative impacts are:
a) Unavoidable? Please explain your answers and ensure an action is included in Stage
4 to mitigate these wherever possible
WDC Disability Guidance
Equality Assessment form
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Stage 4: Monitoring (Publication and Review)
1.
Please state the actions you will take to promote equality or to address any adverse impact highlighted in the Stages above
Equality Improvement Plan (EIP)
Equality Target
(see note
below)
Equality Action
(see note
below)
Intended outcome
(see note below)
Deadline for
completion this MUST
be included – on-going
is not acceptable
WDC officer
responsible
Job Title
Review
date
(see note
below)
Equality Target
Intended outcome relates to how the results of the action will be used. (for eg. If you have an action to consult please provide an intended
outcome that shows what you will use the information gained for, and how this will make a real-life equality improvement for people).
Equality Action
Many actions may work towards one target. (e.g. i) devise pre-evaluation process, ii) devise post-evaluation process, iii) implement
evaluation, iv) collate findings & make recommendations)
What actions are you taking towards this target and how will success against the action be monitored?
WDC Disability Guidance
Equality Assessment form
people
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place
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July 2013
pounds
Intended outcome
Relates to how the results of the action will be used (e.g. for an action to consult provide an intended outcome showing what you will use
info. for and how this ill make a real-life equality improvement for people.
This should link to:
 any information you still need to obtain - Stage 2
 any impacts you are attempting to mitigate, or achieve - Stage 3
 how it contributes to the Equality Act General Duties - Stage 3
Review date
Date when we can review expected progress as a result of changes made (e.g., dependant on the nature of the action this may be 3 ,6 ,
9 or even 12 months after the action has been completed)
NB you will be required to provide quarterly updates on these actions to your Equality Champion until they are completed.
WDC Disability Guidance
Equality Assessment form
people
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place
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July 2013
pounds
I have read the Equality Assessment and am satisfied all available evidence has been
accurately assessed for its impact on the protected characteristics. Mitigations, where
appropriate, have been identified and actioned accordingly I confirm all actions are
agreed and this is EA approved for publication
Head of Service signature:
.........................................................................................
Service Area:
Date:
An electronic Word version should now be sent to the Equalities Officer for publication.
Date received by Equalities Officer:
NB
.............................................................................
Heads of Service are responsible for ensuring that the EIA accurately reflects the
service area.